THE thing about dance music is this as genres go, and speaking very generally, it is lyrically inarticulate. A lot of this is down to the use of looped rhythms which, even in the deftest of hands, don't encourage the use of melody. Even in the ease of hip hop/rap, where the lyrics have the potential to take on some of the resonance of folk I get paid for writing this rubbish there is all too often a pathetic deterioration into a reactionary form of machismo. Despite everything, including all the post rock, post modern (call it what you like) experimental endeavours of the past few years, the demand for a sing along still persists.
Listening to Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head (like you do) off the new Burt Bacharach compilation, it is readily apparent that anything by the King of Lounge is infinitely superior in the melody department (not to mention harmony) than 95 per cent of today's hit parade. Let's face it, would you rather listen to Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and Sandie Shaw covering Bacharach than Shed Seven, Northern Uproar or 60 Ft. Dolls?
The compilation, The Look Of Love (Polygram TV) is a master class in melody. Listen and weep to the likes of Alife, Trains And Boats And Planes, The Look Of Love and Anyone Who Had A Heart and try telling me that this man isn't King. The fact that rock music never impinged on Bacharach's musical sensibilities and he remains a bit too "hotel foyer" for some, should not deter you from paying homage. As an extra bonus, the album's sleeve notes are written by Tony Parsons (we're not worthy).
There's more top Ensycore in the shape of In Flight Entertainment (Polygram) where The DJs from The Karminsky Experience (The Carl Coxes of Lounge) invite you to take the elevator to the penthouse suite, and relax with a cocktail to the easy sounds of Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra, Brigitte Bardot and The Chaquito Big Band, among others. There's something for most everyone, from the armchair traveller and the polo necked swinger to the backgammon aficionado and just plan ol' curious observers. Bienvenue dans la Jet Set, as the C the back cover.
If it's 52 first class performances in crystal clear stereo sound you're after, This Is Easy (Virgin) a double CD compilation, is yer only man. Using the all new digital stereo sound known as VAVFT (Vibe alive valve free technology), this marvellous collection is divided into "swinging" and "lounging" sides. On the former, you get Henry Mancini, Percy Faith and his Orchestra, Andy Williams (singing Music To Watch Girls Go By) and the totally under rated 5th Dimension whose Up, Up And Away is an all time classic. On the lounging, or "apre's ski" side, there's plenty of Bacharach, a bit of Francis Lai, and a lot of much loved TV and film themes. Quite fascinating.
Still chillin', there's the Ultra Lounge Collection (Capitol), a series of six lounge albums with titles to die for Wild, Cool And Swingin', Rhapsodesia, Bachelor Pad Royale, Mondo Exotica, Mamho Fever and Space Capades. Each and every one a winner.
Funnily enough, there's an Irish angle to the Ultra Lounge collection a club of the same name (as in the Ultra Lounge Delux Club And Bar) is asking you "to enter an atmosphere that swings to a soundtrack of cool. Sit back, sip a cocktail and savour the sounds of rumbling saxophones, jazzy vibes, overheated Hammonds and the sexy chill of a brush across the cymbal". All this, and more, will be yours at Ultra Lounge which is upstairs at McGrattan's, Fitzwilliam Lane, Dublin next Thursday night (10 p.m. 2.30 a.m.). It's going to be finger clickin' good.
VERY, very briefly The Buzzcocks are up at the Fiddler next
Tuesday night. At a time when a lot of the punk/new wave bands are dragging their hopeless acts around the chicken'n'chips circuit, The Buzzcocks are still writing/playing new material and proving the exception to the "please don't reform" rule ... Sack have got some excellent new material and look like they'll be signing to one of the majors soon. Check out the new buzz when they play Whelans tonight (9pm) ....... Cominatcha next week the one, the only, the god like Tricky.
